Some essential workers in our region will receive the back pay they have been fighting for, after a local union struck a deal with a well-known supermarket chain to compensate staff for risk during the pandemic.
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union reported Wednesday that it reached an agreement with ShopRite, which gives nearly 50,000 unionized workers in the tri-state area a retroactive risk payment. Compensation includes all hours worked from July 26 through August 22.
The union reported that at least 109 supermarket workers have died from COVID-19 and more than 48,000 were infected or exposed.
“Supermarket workers have been on the front lines since this pandemic began and continue to put themselves in jeopardy to help families put out food this Thanksgiving,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone. “This new UFCW deal is a powerful victory for ShopRite Grocery employees in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.”
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